(A) Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for the dog or cat of any person who owns, harbors, or keeps a dog or cat, to run at large. A person, who owns, harbors, or keeps a dog or cat which runs at large shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Dogs or cats on a leash and accompanied by a responsible person or accompanied by and under the control and direction of a responsible person, shall be permitted in streets or on public land unless the city has posted an area with signs reading “Dogs or Cats Prohibited.”
(B) Exception. It shall be permissible for dogs to run at large on and within city owned property, including any city parks, that has been clearly marked with signage indicating dogs may run at large. Any person owning, or having custody or control of any dog that is running at large under this exception shall be responsible for ensuring the dog remains within the indicated area.
(C) License required.
(1) All dogs over the age of four months kept, harbored, or maintained by their owners in the city, shall be licensed and registered with the city. Dog licenses shall be for a period of two years, and shall be issued by the City Manager-Clerk upon payment of the license fee as established by Chapter 34 of this code, as it may be amended from time to time. The owner shall state, at the time application is made for the license and upon forms provided, his or her name and address and the name, breed, color, and sex of each dog owned or kept by him or her. No license shall be granted for a dog that has not been vaccinated against distemper and rabies, as evidenced by a certificate by a veterinarian qualified to practice in the state in which the dog is vaccinated.
(2) It shall be the duty of each owner of a dog subject to this section to pay to the City Manager-Clerk the license fee established in Chapter 34 of this code, as it may be amended from time to time.
(3) Upon payment of the license fee as established by Chapter 34 of this code, as it may be amended from time to time, the Manager-Clerk shall issue to the owner a license certificate and metallic tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall have stamped on it the year for which it is issued and the number corresponding with the number on the certificate. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag must be affixed, and shall see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed, the City Manager-Clerk shall issue a duplicate. A charge shall be made for each duplicate tag in an amount established in Chapter 34 of this code, as it may be amended from time to time. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another and no refunds shall be made on any dog license fee or tag because of death of a dog or the owner’s leaving the city before the expiration of the license period.
(4) The licensing provisions of this division (B) shall not apply to dogs whose owners are non- residents temporarily within the city, nor to dogs brought into the city for the purpose of participating in any dog show, nor shall this provision apply to seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place.
(5) The funds received by the City Manager-Clerk from all dog licenses and metallic tags fees as established by Chapter 34 of this code, as it may be amended from time to time, shall first be used to defray any costs incidental to the enforcement of this chapter; including, but not restricted to, the costs of licenses, metallic tags, and impounding and maintenance of the dogs.
(D) Cats. Cats shall be included as controlled by this division insofar as running at large, pick-up, impounding, boarding, licensing, and proof of anti-rabies vaccine is concerned. All other provisions of this section shall also apply to cats unless otherwise provided.
(E) Vaccination.
(1) All dogs and cats kept harbored, maintained, or transported within the city shall be vaccinated at least once every three years by a licensed veterinarian for:
(a) Rabies, with a live modified vaccine; and
(b) Distemper.
(2) A certificate of vaccination must be kept on which is stated the date of vaccination, owner’s name and address, the animal’s name (if applicable), sex, description and weight, the type of vaccine, and the veterinarian’s signature. Upon demand made by the City Manager-Clerk, the Animal Control Officer, or a police officer, the owner shall present for examination the required certificate of vaccination for the animal. In cases where certificates are not presented, the owner or keeper of the animal shall have seven days in which to present the certificate to the City Manager-Clerk or officer. Failure to do so shall be deemed a violation of this section.
(Ord. 330, passed 1-17-02; Am. Ord. 419, passed 6-14-16) Penalty, see § 10.99